Lily unfolded a cloth revealing a row of silver needles. Yasmin was surprised she carried them.
"Tell me. What do you want?" The queen took a deep breath, reminding herself she could refuse. Still, she remained cautious of Lily's intentions.
Lily said casually, "I left because Prince Ross wanted to help me. I hope you don't punish him."
"That's it?" Yasmin thought she'd misheard. Was Lily negotiating to avoid her son's punishment?
"Ross is my son. I won't harm him. Don't you think you've wasted an opportunity with such a request?" The queen shook her head.
"I wasn't sure if you'd blame him, but he rescued me. It would be ungrateful not to mention it," Lily said gently. "Besides, didn't you already lock him up?"
Yasmin was puzzled. "No, I only sent him back to Yudonia. He kept trying to stop me, and I didn't want it to affect our relationship. Our country needs us both, so I sent him back."
"But I couldn't reach his phone," Lily said, baffled. Even overseas, the group should have been able to contact him; this led them to believe the queen had detained Ross.
"I'm not sure why. I was angry that day, but I sent him back to Yudonia immediately," the queen said, taking a deep breath. "So, are you happy with my answer? Can you treat me now?"
Lily nodded. "Of course."
She wheeled Yasmin to a better spot, knelt, and began the treatment. The queen felt nothing as Lily inserted the needles, but gradually relaxed, watching Lily's focused expression. Yasmin, unable to walk for years, yearned even for a stroll in the garden.
After inserting the needles, Lily said, "I'll pull them out later. You may feel soreness in your waist tonight, moving downward. If uncomfortable, use a warm towel. If that doesn't help, let me know."
The queen nodded, subconsciously touching her waist; she felt nothing below it. Looking at her needle-covered legs and then at Lily, she gently asked, "If—and I mean if—R10 works and I transfer my consciousness to your body, does that mean your consciousness will disappear? Does that mean the 'new' Lily, which would be me, won't have your medical skills?"